The Nan Project, directed by Assist. Prof. Dr. Dia Shannon comprises 3 research initiatives:
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From a Bare Mountain to a Regenerated Forest: compared landscape planting designs for forest restoration in Nan Province, sponsored by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 2017 to 2020.
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Forest Landscape Restoration and Community Well-being: supported by the Program Management Unit on Area Based Development (PMU A), 2020 to 2021.
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Evaluating Changes and Ecosystem Services of Nan Restored Forests: funded by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 2021 to 2022.
The research spans three districts of Nan Province—Pua, Phu Phiang and Wiang Sa—with three plots in each district. The project commenced with a survey of reference forest remnants, near the restoration sites, including i) the Nam Kaen - Nam Sa Watershed Forests (Phu Phiang District), supervised by the Royal Forest Department; ii) Mon Hin Kaew Community Forest (Pua District) and iii) Ban Muang Noeng Community Forest (Wiang Sa District). The survey involved documenting tree density, species diversity and phenology, as well as bird diversity, over three years. Such data were then compared with the same in restoration forests, established in the 3 districts.
Knowledge of the framework species method of forest ecosystem restoration was transferred to local communities and restoration plots of various sizes were planted with a range of indigenous framework tree species. Post-restoration activities include frequent weeding and fertilizer application, as well as the cutting of firebreaks in the dry season. Monitoring focused on survival and growth rates of each species, as well as the diversity of soil microbial communities. Ecosystem services, provided by the restored forests, including climate control, were evaluated, along with forest products used by local people. The effects of restoration on the quality of life of local people was also assessed. Currently, villagers who are project members continue to actively contribute to the care of the restored forest, to ensure its long-term health and growth.
In collaboration with:
Biodiversity
Biodiversity recovery is one of the main aims of forest restoration - but what to measure? Plants? Birds? Mammal? Learn simple monitoring techniques here.
81: The Chiang Mai Research Agenda for the Restoration of Degraded Forestlands for Wildlife Conservation in Southeast Asia
Back in 2000, forest restoration research was far from main stream. Deforestation was regarded as irreversible and the idea that ecologists could actually find a way to restore tropical forest...
82: Inter-relationships between wildlife and forest restoration
Implicit in the workshop’s title was the assumption that restoring tropical forests benefits wildlife. However, in SE Asia, this assumption has not been tested in restored forests. The purpose of...
83: Defining forest restoration for wildlife conservation
Deforestation in the tropics is now widely accepted as one of the greatest threats to wildlife on Earth. The last decade of the 20th century saw rapid changes in attitudes towards this problem and...
84: The effect of artificial perches and local vegetation on bird-dispersed seed deposition into regenerating sites
ABSTRACT: Knowledge of the role of birds in natural regeneration could be used to accelerate and reduce the costs of forest restoration. The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) whether...
85: Restoring conservation forests in northern Thailand and the monitoring of frugivorous birds
During tropical forest restoration, birds play a crucial role in dispersing seeds from nearby forest into restoration sites. The framework species method of forest restoration is designed to...
86: Forest Restoration for Wildlife Conservation
In 2000, there was little interest in restoring tropical forest ecosystems as wildlife habitat. The need was to consolidate the concept and to identify how scientific research might contribute...
87: Tree Colonization of Abandoned Agricultural Clearings in Seasonal Tropical Montane Forest in Northern Thailand
ABSTRACT: In 1994 the Thai Government embarked upon a nationwide project to restore degraded forests. One approach to such an endeavour is to assist natural regeneration (ANR) by managing a site...
88: The establishment and survival of native trees on degraded hillsides in Hong Kong
ABSTRACT: Deforestation and land degradation in the tropics and subtropics are proceeding at an unprecedented rate, threatening a massive loss in global biodiversity, comprising a fifth of the...
89: Morphological database of fruits and seeds of trees in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park
Abtract: Doi Suthep-Pui National Park supports an exceptionally high diversity of vascular plants. Surveys conducted by J.F. Maxwell since 1987 have enumerated a total of 2,145 species to date, of...
90: Effects of Forest Restoration Activities on the Bird Community of a Degraded Upland Watershed
ABSTRACT: A survey of bird species richness was carried out in a degraded upland watershed at Ban Mae Sa Mai in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, comparing plots where forest restoration activities...